The Sindh High Court (SHC) has intervened to ensure uninterrupted internet access for all citizens leading up to the general elections on February 8. The court’s directive, issued on Wednesday, explicitly forbids the suspension of internet services by the authorities, marking a climactic moment in the ongoing debate over digital freedom and civic rights.
Upholding Digital Rights Amidst Political Campaigns
As political campaigns intensify ahead of the impending elections, users have encountered repeated internet disruptions. Notably, on January 20th, a substantial outage affected major social media platforms, including Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube. Advocate Jibran Nasir, a fervent human rights activist, initiated legal action by filing a petition with the SHC, addressing the recurrent issue of internet shutdowns within the country.
Court Responds to PTA’s Suspension of Internet Services
The Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) faced scrutiny, attributing a recent nationwide internet outage to a “technical fault” within its optic fiber network. In response, the SHC has mandated that relevant parties present their responses by January 29, indicating a commitment to ensuring transparency and accountability in handling digital infrastructure. The court’s decision echoes a more general concern for maintaining fair democratic processes, as Advocate Jibran Nasir emphasizes the need to provide an unbiased platform for all political parties, particularly highlighting the perceived targeting of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf’s (PTI) election campaigns in recent disruptions.
Read more: Internet Shutdowns in Pakistan Cause Rs1.3 Billion Direct Loss: PIDE Study
